The
UK has for decades been one of the most popular destinations for those choosing
to study abroad; around 250,000 students from 180 countries come to the UK each
year.

At
many museums and art galleries, student entry is free.

Study in United Kingdom

The UK higher education sector offers you
inspiring teaching, excellent facilities and a world-class research
environment.

UK education is all about giving you the
inspiration to help you develop your skills, the freedom to be creative, and
the support you need to achieve your best.

UK universities and colleges invest in excellent
facilities – from libraries, computer and science labs to sports centres,
theatres and art studios. Class sizes are restricted to ensure that you have
access to equipment and enough time to talk to your tutors and lecturers.

Why study in the UK?

There are many possible study destinations to choose from, so why should
you choose the UK? Whether you want to kick-start a successful career, gain
world-recognised qualifications or have an adventure, find out what the UK has
to offer.

Open the doors to your dream career: on a UK course,
you gain skills and qualifications to help you succeed in any career you
choose. As an international student, you have the option to work for up to 20
hours per week during term time and full-time in the holidays. There are also
opportunities for you to work for up to two years following your graduation.
This is a great way to build up your work experience and gain some important
skills to round out your CV.

Perfect your English: the UK is the top destination
worldwide for English language study.

Get great value for money: UK education can be affordable,
and UK qualifications boost your earning potential as well as making your CV
stand out to future employers.

Discover, create, innovate: the UK is one of the most
exciting and productive places in the world for research, creativity and
innovation. If you have a passion for learning and want to be at the forefront
of your subject, this is the place to be.

Source: British Council

The UK education system

UK higher education students are generally
aged 18 or over (17 in Scotland), and have usually already achieved further
education qualifications, such as A-levels, the International Baccalaureate,
Scottish Highers or an equivalent qualification from the UK or another country.
Many have completed a foundation or access course too.

Economy: The UK is one of
the world’s leading business locations and the number one destination for inward
investment in Europe. The UK is one of the top ten manufacturers
in the world and has the largest industries in Europe for life sciences, ICT
and the creative industries.

Language:
English is spoken throughout the UK, but there are other official languages
too, such as Welsh, Scots and Gaelic.

Money:
The currency of the UK is pounds sterling.

Religion:
The main religion in the UK is Christianity. However, the UK is a multi-faith
society where other religions are widely welcomed and accepted.

Living cost

Before you apply to study in the UK, we
strongly recommend that you research how much it is likely to cost, to make sure you can afford it and to
help you plan. Course
fees are likely to be one of your biggest expenses, but don’t forget day-to-day
living costs as well.

To help you plan your living costs, have a look at our
prepared case study. This will help you work out how to manage your money and
build a budget for living and studying in the UK.

Visas

International students need to obtain the correct UK student visa before
arriving in the UK. Without this, you won’t be allowed to enter the country.
The type of visa you need depends on your nationality. Find out if you need a
visa to study in the UK here: www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.
The most important thing is to have a valid passport. If you don’t have one, it
is a good idea to apply for one at the same time as you apply to university.

You can apply through the official government website at: www.gov.uk
(Note: if you are from Zimbabwe, North Korea or Cuba, you must apply in person
in your own country).

It costs £328 to apply for this visa from
outside the UK.

The typical process for visa
application

When
should I apply for a visa?

It is important to prepare and apply well
before you intend to begin your course. Many students do not realise how long
the process will take, and do not leave enough time. You can apply for a visa
up to three months before the start of your course, but it is a good idea to do
your research and plan what you need to do before that, if you can.

When you apply for the visa you must provide:

-a current passport or other valid travel
documentation.

-proof that you can support yourself and pay
for your course – this will vary, depending on your circumstances.

-proof of parental or other legal guardian consent
if you are under 18.

-proof you have attended an interview and/or
enrolled your biometric information and taken an English language test.

-your tuberculosis test results
if you are from a country where you have to take the test.

-you may also need to provide additional
documents, depending on your circumstances.

You will usually get a decision on your visa
within three weeks. Check the UK Visas and Immigration guide to processing times to
find out how long it might take to get a visa in your country.

The
interview

Most applicants for the Tier 4 Adult visa will be required to attend an
interview in their home country at a visa application centre. Here, a Home
Office staff member will ask you a few questions about your plans to study in
the UK. Be honest and don’t be too nervous.

Possible
interview questions

Please note that these are examples only — in
the short interview, only a selection of questions will be asked.

Why
do you want to study in the UK?

What
are the benefits of studying in the UK compared to your home country?

Why
did you choose this college/university?

Which
other colleges/universities did you consider?

Where
is the university?

Do
you know anyone who has already studied there?

Do
you know how large the university is, how many students?

How
long does your course last?

How
is your chosen course assessed?

Did
you consider any other course?

Does
this course offer any professional recognition?

Are you planning to stay in the UK
on completion to study for a higher award such as a master’s degree?

What’s the Tier 4 visa application process
really like?

To find out, we asked students from India and
China to share their experiences as they applied for visas to study in the UK. Follow
their journey in these videos: